A new Polygon feature by Matt Leone chronicles the nature of growing older and wiser in the game industry, by focusing on Shinji Mikami, one of the most successful game developers around.

Mikami is best known for Resident Evil, a blockbuster Capcom franchise that he created and directed when he was just 30. Now at 44, he's still hands-on with game development, but also recognizes the need to give young directors creative freedom so they can leave their own mark on game creation.

These days, Mikami heads up Tango Gameworks, a studio owned by Zenimax Media, the parent of The Elder Scrolls developer Bethesda Softworks. He's currently at work on the horror game The Evil Within.